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As
one starts climbing down the ghat on the Nager-Aurangabad
Road a scene catches the eyesight. During monsoon the spot
turns lush green, while for around six other months of the
year it bears the curse of scarcity. The monsoon effect
is the result of the initial years of a project : a dream
of an agricultural diploma holder and fellow members. The
piece of land belongs to Suresh Shete and Shivaji Shete:
Suresh is agricultural diploma holder. It is their hard
work, and the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), that
has helped convert the arid piece of land into a green patch
today.
Obtained in 2000, the hectares of land were rocky, decayed
and developing the same was a Herculean task Suresh knew.
He planned to do floriculture and building a green house
for the purpose.
In the first year, what Suresh tried was simply to try and
bring the land in a condition of useful purposes. The condition
of the land was so decayed that he even doubted whether
it could be of any use. As he was in search of a way out
he came across a mass awakening campaign of the NHM. Initial
impression that the NHM could help him led him to talk it
put with District Superintendent of Agricultural Vikas Patil,
Sub-Divisional Agricultural Officer Shivajirao Jagtap and
Circle Agricultural Officer Z.A.Inamdar. His educational
background in agriculture came in handy at this point. Initially,
he was inclined only to implement the floriculture scheme
under the mission. However, soon he realized that all the
schemes under the NHM could be use and he could realize
his dream. The project was named NHM Park, It was supposed
to be an exhibit of all the schemes of the NHM under one
roof. It was the first case of its kind in the district.
Everything began with a green-house: it then expanded to
a shade-net, farm pond, pack house and a vermiculture project.
1.Green-house: The green –house is spread over 10 gunthas
of land. Shete has planted 7000 Jerberra plants, each of
which cost Rs.28. With sound practices of temperature and
humidity control, use of drip irrigation technique for watering,
and fertilization
In scientific manner, these plants deliver excellent results
around 900 to 1000 flowers are sent to Hydrabad Market every
day. Transportation of these flowers is not a big problem
for Shete, as private luxury buses ply on the route regularly.
Apart from these, these flowers have good demand at local
markets too.
Shete has invested Rs.11 Lakhs for the project. A large
part of it has come in the form of grant from the NHM. Shete
procured a loan of Rs.8.80 lakh from the State Bank of India.
As of toddy, with the sale of over 1000 flowers every day,
Shete earns Rs.3000. It helps him repay the loan timely.
He requires 4 labor for maintenance and 2 families have
been kept on site for the purpose.
2.Form Pond : Land in and around the field of Shete was
facing water scarcity for a long time. To realize the dream
of horticulture, irrigation was a basic requirement. Shete
again turned to the NHM for constructing a community farm
pond. It was done with the help of three other farmers whose
land was adjacent to that of Shete. The capacity of the
pond is 100 cubic metres, and thus the annual need of water
o all the four farmers is fulfilled.
3.Pack house : Classification of the product and packaging
is an essential part of the modern day economic activity.
This gave birth to the project of Pack house. Currently,
though , it is used for Classification and packaging of
jerberra flowers but it could be of more use once other
agricultural activities planned by Shete are realized. The
investment for the house, spread over 600 sq,ft was raised
through bank loan and the NHM.
4.Vermiculture
project : Vermiculture provdes very essential organic constituents
for the healthy growth of any plant. Vermiculture performs
an important role in the NHM Project as Shete plants to
follow organic farming practices. Shete has taken 6 beds
of vermiculture project. A Shete has implemented many schemes
under NHM, farmers from surrounding areas visit the NHM
park to have a first has experience of the project. With
this in mind, Shete plans to start a centre for advancement
of agro techniques. Although it is first year of the projece,
Shete has been able to make a clean profit of Rs.2.5 lakhs
this year. Shete plans to start an agro-tourism centre.
The project is situated along the Nager-Aurangabad Road
with a ghat as a background. Therefore, he is confident
that people travelling on the road would make it a point
to visit the project.
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